Dear Western Water reader, 

Summer is a good time to take a break, relax and enjoy some of the great beaches, waterways and watersheds around California and the West. We hope you’re getting a chance to do plenty of that this July.

But in the weekly sprint through work, it’s easy to miss some interesting nuggets you might want to read. So while we’re taking a publishing break to work on other water articles planned for later this year, we want to help you catch up on Western Water stories from the first half of this year that you might have missed. 

Enjoy!

~Your Western Water team

In-Depth Articles

Can Providing Bathrooms to Homeless Protect California’s Water Quality?: The connection between homelessness and water is gaining attention under California’s human right to water law and amid water quality concerns. (Published June 27)

With Drought Plan in Place, Colorado River Stakeholders Face Even Tougher Talks Ahead On The River’s Future: Talks are about to begin on a potentially sweeping agreement that could reimagine how the overworked Colorado River is managed. (Published May 9)

Notebook Articles

 As Californians Save More Water, Their Sewers Get Less and That’s a Problem: Lower flows damage equipment, concentrate waste and stink up neighborhoods. Some ask: Should the state’s water conservation focus shift outdoors? (Published June 13)

Bruce Babbitt Urges Creation of Bay-Delta Compact as Way to End ‘Culture of Conflict’ in California’s Key Water Hub: The former Interior secretary says the 1922 Colorado River Compact is a model for achieving peace and addressing environmental and water needs in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. (Published April 11)

California Officials Draft a $600M Plan To Help Low-Income Households Absorb Rising Water Bills: A State Water Board report proposes new taxes on personal and business income or fees on bottled water and booze to fund a rate relief program. (Published Feb. 7)

Key California Ag Region Ponders What’s Next After Voters Spurn Bond to Fix Sinking Friant-Kern Canal: Subsidence chokes off up to 60% of the Friant-Kern Canal’s capacity to move water to aid San Joaquin Valley farms and depleted groundwater basins. (Published Jan. 17)

Q&A Articles

150 Years After John Wesley Powell Ventured Down the Colorado River, How Should We Assess His Legacy in the West?: University of Colorado’s Charles Wilkinson sizes up Powell’s imprint on water and the American West. (Published May 23)  

California’s New Natural Resources Secretary Takes on Challenge of Implementing Gov. Newsom’s Ambitious Water Agenda: Wade Crowfoot addresses the governor’s Delta tunnel shift, the Salton Sea plan and managing California water amid a legacy of conflict. (Published April 25) 

‘Mission-Oriented’ Colorado River Veteran Takes the Helm as the US Commissioner of IBWC: Jayne Harkins’ duties as U.S. Commissioner of the International Boundary and Water Commission include collaboration with Mexico on Colorado River supply as well as pressing water quality issues. (Published March 14)

Spotlight Articles

As Deadline Looms for California’s Badly Overdrafted Groundwater Basins, Kern County Seeks a Balance to Keep Farms Thriving: Sustainability plans required by the state’s groundwater law could cap Kern County pumping, alter what’s grown and how land is used. (Published March 28)  

Imported Water Built Southern California; Now Santa Monica Aims To Wean Itself Off That Supply: Santa Monica is tapping groundwater, rainwater and tighter consumption rules to bring local supply and demand into balance. (Published Feb. 28) 

Southern California Water Providers Think Local in Seeking to Expand Supplies: Los Angeles and San Diego are among the agencies pursuing more diverse water portfolios that go beyond imports. (Published Feb. 28) 

At the Foundation

We may be taking a publishing break, but we’re still working hard on a few more water tours to help you learn more about water resource issues and challenges around California.

• Our Edge of Drought Tour Aug. 27-29 will take participants through the Santa Barbara region, an area particularly prone to drought, wildfires and mudslides and whose hydrologic recovery from drought often has lagged behind much of the rest of the state. Early bird registration ends July 29.
• Our Northern California Tour, Oct. 2-4, will explore the Sacramento River and its tributaries and help participants learn about issues like salmon restoration, flood management and groundwater management associated with a key source of the state’s water supply. Learn more here.
• Our Central Coast Tour, Nov. 6-7, will travel from San Jose to Monterey, through the agriculturally rich Salinas Valley to Paso Robles, along the way exploring ocean desalination, water recycling, groundwater and seawater intrusion, habitat restoration, and urban and agricultural water use in this beautiful region of California. Get the details here.  

We’re also assembling a high-powered agenda for the 2019 Water Summit, our premier event that will be held Oct. 30 along the Sacramento River in downtown Sacramento. This year’s theme: “Water Year 2020: A Year of Reckoning.” Find out more here. 

Summer Shopping

Finally, whether you work in water resources in California or the West, you’re a teacher who wants to beef up your classroom resources or you’re merely interested in the diverse array of issues affecting water in the West, we have a wide variety of maps, guides, reports and teacher materials available on our website. Check out the full catalog here.